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Question time for city

Just how is the city council going to save £50 million next year? Ask 'em

Published on October 11th 2011.

PEOPLE are being invited to a Question Time-style session with city leaders about how they propose to cut £50 million from council spending next year.

As part of the council’s budget consultation, the event is being held at Liverpool Town Hall on Thursday 27 October at 6pm, which will also be broadcast live on the council’s website.

Council Leader Joe Anderson said the move is designed to show that city leaders are being as "open and honest" about the cuts in 2012/2013, which he describes as even more painfu than anything we've seen so far.

The council says that more than 200 local people will get to find out first hand the scale of the challenge caused by reductions in the grants given to the city council by central government.

Joe AndersonThe discussion will be focused around options for next year - and not decisions for the current financial year (2011/12).

There will be a presentation on next year’s budget, including a series of management options that the council will be asked to consider as the budget process unfolds. This will be followed by the opportunity to ask questions.

Council Leader Joe Anderson said: “This year we have had to take £91 million out of our budget, which is around 22 percent of our controllable spending.

“Next year the pain is going to be even harder because we have already trimmed away the excess fat by slashing waste and cutting senior salaries and the management structure.

“We are determined to be as open and honest as we can about the process, because it is no exaggeration to say that the decisions we make will affect every single resident in one way or another.

“I hope the consultation will lead to a greater understanding of the difficulties we face, and explain to people how we are trying to set a budget which is fair and protects services to the most vulnerable as far as we possibly can.”

People who wish to attend the Public Question Time must register for a place by calling 0151 233 3040 or email budget@liverpool.gov.uk by Thursday 20 October.

Seats will be allocated on a first come, first served basis and are limited to two per applicant or organisation.

Admission to the meeting will not be possible without a ticket.

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Get that bloke from the Linda McDermott programme on BBC Radio Merseyside. He heartily endorses anything any of the women says (e.g. "I remember when Lewis's building was painted bright purple every Whit!") then when they admit they were mistaken he changes his mind and acts as if no-one could have heard his original response and pretends it never happened - "No, no, you're quite correct!"